2025 Rankings: Superlatives
In this article:
The coverage of this update to the Class of 2025 rankings kicks off by highlighting prospect that shine the brightest in specific skillsets and categories. With a more in-depth look at more prospects in these categories and others throughout the…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe coverage of this update to the Class of 2025 rankings kicks off by highlighting prospect that shine the brightest in specific skillsets and categories. With a more in-depth look at more prospects in these categories and others throughout the week.
As always, these rankings are meant to be a snapshot of where the class is at this current stage. With a weight on how their game projects to the next level while also factoring in current production. Which is quite the tricky concept to balance, especially when trying to merge evaluations from the different environments of Grassroots and High School.
THE BEST PROSPECT
The headliner for Oklahoma’s current juniors, Young could be considered for many of the categories but lets focus on why he’s at the top spot. He has the size and wingspan to be an off the ball guard or even wing, but continues to improve his overall skillset as a scorer. The lefty’s handle has started to become tighter and has even more command of his wide array of moves to create separation to pull up from deep or the mid-range. On the defensive side on the ball, he has some of the best instincts in Oklahoma it when it’s coming passing lanes or sensing weakness when covering on the ball. His hands are some of the fastest in the state! The Oklahoma State commit is the complete package and has played a key role in the surging Bombers becoming one of the top contenders in Class 5A.
THE BEST SCORER
Miller had a strong sophomore season and has taken his game up even a higher level as the “Go to Guy” for the Broncos. He continues to have arguably the deepest bag when it comes dribble moves, counters and footwork in the state. To go along with deep skillset, there’s more burst to his game when it comes to finishing at the rim and in the halfcourt. Miller is now playing faster and more active on the glass. Which when he grabs defensive boards, his ability to push it with coast to coast takes has started to allow him to hurt defenses beyond just his trademark halfcourt ISO game. Scoring is always needed at the next level and the Bronco continues to make steady strides to prove he’s a next level scorer.
Highlights
Other Candidates
THE BEST DEFENDER
The junior is having a strong campaign for the Tigers and while he has many great traits that are appealing to college coaches, his defensive abilities might be number one calling card. Howell is a physical big guard, who has great instincts reading off the ball when it comes to steals and other havoc causing opportunities. While also being able to sit down and play disciplined, on the ball defense. His offensive game appears to be coming in spurts, with there being stretches where he looks college ready and others where he’s not assertive enough. Overall, Howell’s size, defensive instincts and playmaking abilities keeps him as one of the top prospects in the junior class.
Other Candidates
THE BEST SMALL TOWN PROSPECT
As a sophomore, Nickson led the Eagles to a Class 4A runner up and as a junior he has helped them to a top ranking in the Class 4A and in pole position to return to the Big House. He’s a strong candidate for many spots on this breakdown, with freakish athleticism for his size and is one of the most unique players in the state. As Nickson has a bully game and frame but can do damage off the dribble with a smooth mid-range as a primary ballhandler for the Eagles. This year he looks even stronger as a passer, as he plays with an unselfishness that spreads the wealth for his talented squad. Oklahoma has a strong recent history of small town stars, and Nickson has firmly planted him in the conversation among the best. And that’s with an impending playoff run, and one more full season to go for him to add to his impressive resume.
Other Candidates
THE BEST PASSER
Furnish is the best passer not only in the class, but also in the conversation for best in the last few years in Oklahoma. He can seemingly make any type of pass, from fancy bounce passes in transition, drive and kickouts, serving up alley oops, great reads off of ball screens and many more. It’s just not the accuracy on his passes, it’s the way he anticipates the game in transition and halfcourt. Furnish has this unique gift that shows he’s often thinking multiple steps ahead. If he was a soccer player he would be a creative midfielder with a high total of “chances created”. Oh yeah, along with his passing Furnish can also fill it up from DEEP as one of the better shooters in Oklahoma.
THE BEST ATHLETE
Nickens might be the fastest player in the state with the ball in his hands, which is straight up scary considering he’s built like a prototypical Power 5 WR prospect (which turns out he is as an Oklahoma football commit). Along with the outrageous burst when racing down the court or attacking off the dribble, he’s an outrageous finisher at the rim with highlight reel dunks. His junior season was unfortunately delayed after he transferred schools, but his recent debut showed he’s still a “1 of 1” type pure athletic prospect. Now, he’ll have the Trojans to compete for their second straight Class 4A crown.
OTHER CANDIDATES
THE BEST SHOOTER
Scott remains the premier game changing shooter in the Class of 2025. There’s few players in the state who can rattle off consecutive makes like he does. It’s a cliche, but once one three goes in for Scott, the rim must look huge because more makes are very likely to follow soon after. The Trojan doesn’t just rest on his accolades as a sniper, he plays with his hair on fire on defense. While also becoming quicker and stronger with the ball in his hands, leading to violent looking moves to bring the same accuracy from three to the mid-range. And more juice when finishing at the rim.
OTHER CANDIDATES
THE MOST VERSATILE
Rayfield is one of the top prospects in the state because of his unique natural gifts and how he leverages them on both ends of the court. The junior can pin shots at the rim, grab rebounds and push it himself , or switch out onto guards and cover them. Offensively he remains a plus shooter for a player his size, while asserting himself more and more around the rim with his ability to play above it. Dunks are a regular occurrence, as he has an easy huge stride that makes it look effortless when he’s attacking an open lane or eating up ground in the halfcourt. Simply put, there are few players in Oklahoma who can impact a game in the multitude of ways that Rayfield does.
THE MOST UNHERALDED
The Pocola standout has only done one thing since the first viewing of him in June of 2022. Improved. As he’s grown into his body, he’s becoming more explosive. And if he played in either of the metro areas in Oklahoma, his now explosive and powerful finishing above the rim abilities would be breathlessly covered by the growing video industry around Oklahoma high school basketball. But it’s not just the dunks that make Terrell undervalued on social media, he’s a tenacious rebounder and shotblocker. As the junior continues to assert himself as one of the top upside prospects in Oklahoma, he also has Pocola as one of the favorites to make the Big House in 2A, with dreams of playing spoiler against one of the best teams in the state.
Highlights
OTHER CANDIDATES
THE BEST MOTOR
Considering that Lawton plays in a difficult Class 6A district, Deans might be the most productive prospect in this class. He’s averaging an eye popping 22 point and 13 rebounds for the season. And while he has expanded his offensive skillset, his non stop motor is the driving factor beyond his productive. The junior is simply an animal around the rim and is a tenacious rebounder with his long arms. On offense, he’s an outstanding finisher who has greatly expanded his offensive skillset. He plays strong and aggressive off two feet on drives. Capable of either powering through contact or getting defenders off balanced with pumpfakes.
As an unorthodox prospect when compared to other guards, Deans might not pass the immediate eye test to college coaches, but he’s a producer and his game is making big strides from a skillset. The drum to beat with college coaches is that he looks to be a bigger and more explosive Chris Braggs, who recently shined at Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Highlights
Other Candidates: